Wisconsin Basketball Staff Member Leaves for Head Coaching Job

It’s time to brush up your resume because the Wisconsin Badgers basketball program is officially on the market for a new Director of Recruiting and Scouting.

Kyle Blackbourn, who has over a decade of coaching experience, is leaving his role as Director of Recruiting and Scouting for the Wisconsin Badgers to assume the position of head coach at Rockhurst University.

“RU! I’m over the moon excited to be named the next head coach (at Rockhurst),” Blackbourn wrote. “Thank you to coach Gard and Badger nation for the last eight years. Excited to get to Kansas City and get to work. Go Hawks!”

HIRED❕

Kyle Blackbourn, who has spent the last eight seasons on the University of Wisconsin men’s basketball staff, has been named as the new head coach for the Rockhurst men’s basketball program.#RockU pic.twitter.com/24hVijxcmb

— Rockhurst Athletics (@RUhawks) April 17, 2024

Blackbourn began his tenure with the Wisconsin basketball team during the 2016-17 season, serving as the assistant director of basketball operations before ascending to his most recent role as the Badgers Director of Recruiting.

He played a pivotal role for the Badgers, overseeing all recruiting-related duties, such as setting up on-campus visits and player evaluations, while collaborating with Greg Gard and the Wisconsin basketball coaching staff.

Hailing from Shullsburg, Wisconsin, Blackbourn’s coaching journey began with assistant roles at Scales Mound High School and Shullsburg High School before jumping to college. Notable stops include stints at Benedictine College, Grand View University, and Delta College, where he earned acclaim for leading the Pioneers to a 19-13 record.

Coach Blackburn now takes over a Division 2 Rockhurst basketball program that went 12-16 this past season.

He is now the second Wisconsin basketball staff member to move on from the Badgers this offseason, joining assistant coach Dean Oliver.

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